The tiny little steps of progress with Mason are always huge events to write about. So that's what I'm about to do.
First the background ~ Mason has learned to use the computer at school. He can easily make his way around Reader Rabbit Toddler, a program for ages 1 - 3. So we set up our old slow computer for him at home over Christmas. He has been playing on it off and on during the day. First thing, he will get one of the dining chairs and bring it to the desk. Next he gets a second one for me or another person to sit on. He likes having someone next to him sometimes.
Yesterday, I had rolled the desk (on castors) into our bedroom, thinking that Mason could go a whole morning without the computer. After breakfast, Mason went a got a chair and put it in front of where the computer normally sits. Then he got the second one and placed it beside the spot the computer normally sits. Then he took my hand and plunked me down in the guest chair. Then he stood and looked at the blank wall where the computer should be. I said "no computer" and he began to cry. He followed me as I walked past the front door, then lay down on the floor to cry some more. I said, once again, "no computer". He cried a bit more, then suddenly stopped crying, looked directly at me and clearly said," La la?" That's his word for computer. How could I say no again after that?
The hugeness of the event is his clear verbal communication. Because his speech is so extremely limited, his communication lies in crying (like a baby does) or taking our hand and leading us to what he wants. I always try to make him verbalize his request, even though he uses the same one or two generic words in his request. But this is the first time he verbalized a request without being promted first.
A very exciting day for us! It's so neat to see his brain working and thinking!
Monday, January 03, 2005
New Year Update
Happy New Year!!
We have kept extremely low key over the holidays this year. It has been very relaxing after a busy fall. School kicks in again in two days, along with soccer, Oasis (women’s bible study and worship at our church Wednesday mornings), and anything else that may show up!
Mason has been doing extremely well going off the diet. His seizures have come down a bit. So he is having between 5 and 8 per day right now. His behavior has improved dramatically! He is very happy all day, which is a surprise, because he has been at home most of the time, other than a couple of times to Grandpa and Grandma’s home. he has also been playing Reader Rabbit Toddler on the computer. We hooked up an old computer for Mason, and it’s amazing how well he knows what to do!! The program is made for kids ages 1 – 3. Mason’s development lies between ages 1 – 2. My niece just turned two, and it is amazing how alike Mason and Ava are in many ways.
Regarding food, Mason had pizza for the first time tonight. He’s had a couple of Ritz crackers in the last two days, otherwise no breads yet. He is still mostly having foods that are low carb, as listed on the ketogenic diet, but quantities are not limited. No cream or oil, No weighing, no worrying that he might pick up something and eat it that he’s not allowed. After everything has been so controlled for six months it has felt quite strange having freedom.
Over all, this has been a wonderful Christmas! (in spite of the cough I’ve had since November as well as a head cold over Christmas, a case of head lice on one child of ours, and just plain being tired)
Thank you for your past and continued prayers!
May God richly bless you with His peace this year!!!
Love Shirley
We have kept extremely low key over the holidays this year. It has been very relaxing after a busy fall. School kicks in again in two days, along with soccer, Oasis (women’s bible study and worship at our church Wednesday mornings), and anything else that may show up!
Mason has been doing extremely well going off the diet. His seizures have come down a bit. So he is having between 5 and 8 per day right now. His behavior has improved dramatically! He is very happy all day, which is a surprise, because he has been at home most of the time, other than a couple of times to Grandpa and Grandma’s home. he has also been playing Reader Rabbit Toddler on the computer. We hooked up an old computer for Mason, and it’s amazing how well he knows what to do!! The program is made for kids ages 1 – 3. Mason’s development lies between ages 1 – 2. My niece just turned two, and it is amazing how alike Mason and Ava are in many ways.
Regarding food, Mason had pizza for the first time tonight. He’s had a couple of Ritz crackers in the last two days, otherwise no breads yet. He is still mostly having foods that are low carb, as listed on the ketogenic diet, but quantities are not limited. No cream or oil, No weighing, no worrying that he might pick up something and eat it that he’s not allowed. After everything has been so controlled for six months it has felt quite strange having freedom.
Over all, this has been a wonderful Christmas! (in spite of the cough I’ve had since November as well as a head cold over Christmas, a case of head lice on one child of ours, and just plain being tired)
Thank you for your past and continued prayers!
May God richly bless you with His peace this year!!!
Love Shirley
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